Everything You Need to Know About Linear Actuators For Your Home

A linear actuator is useful and necessary mechanism in the house that will help you push, pull, turn, close, tilt any surface, and etc. In general, there are a lot of applications for such a simple device.

Thus, the widespread usage of electric linear actuators is currently the best solution if smooth movement is required. The scope of their use over the past 25 years has expanded significantly. They began to be used for movement in one direction, in opposite directions, for extension, ejection, lifting, lowering with different load capacities – from 600 N to 10,000 N.

A Smart Scenario

It is easy to guess – since the actuators set objects in motion, then we are talking about systems where no human effort is required. Namely, a home automation system. With it, you can customize the system to your needs. You can open the curtains in the bedroom in sync with the alarm, and switch on the light in the bedroom as soon as it is getting dark.  And also make sure that when you open the door to the kitchen, the lights turn on and off automatically. You can easily program the voice control of devices or the inclusion of a socket with a heater for your return.

Home automation systems have become a very popular place to introduce linear actuator technology. Whether it’s moving a TV in and out of a cabinet or lifting an appliance off an island in the middle of a kitchen, they all use linear actuators to create linear motion. Don’t forget to adjust scenarios until you reach the ideal option for yourself. Fortunately, there is such an opportunity!

Team Work

One of the main advantages of the home automation system is the optimization of resource consumption. Literally, savings reach up to 40% of electricity, and up to 30% of the heating.

The controller manages automation scenarios and ensures the interaction of all devices. Sensors work hard for it, collecting all the information in the designated places and sending it to the controller. And it gives the command to the actuators.

Here is a good example: a window was left open in your house to saturate the room with fresh air but then a hurricane suddenly appeared, and you were not at home. The sensor reacted to the wind and strong movement of air in the room, so it conscientiously transmits information to the controller. The controller instructs the actuator to close the window, and it does.

His Majesty Actuator!

It turns out that if there were no actuators, then you cannot avoid small disasters at home.  Actuators are divided into three types: pneumatic, hydraulic and electric. The latter type is especially popular due to its low price and ease of connection to the electrical equipment of the system. At the heart of an electric linear actuator is just a conventional electric motor, which can be either direct or alternating current.

Often in the industry, a DC motor is used. The mechanism of the linear actuator converts the torque of the motor into translational motion of the working mechanism of the actuator. To do this, the linear actuator must necessarily include a gearbox and a lead screw. The linear actuator uses a lead screw driven by a DC motor. Due to this, a linear movement of the constant-voltage device is created. When the power is turned off, the linear actuator will fix its position.

Thanks to the built-in gearbox, the power of the electric motor can be increased many times over, and the presence of a worm gear gives the drive self-braking properties, so it is impossible to change the position of the rod from the outside, regardless of whether the motor is on or off. All this makes the actuator a serious mechanism as a source of brute physical force. It is your main home assistant while you are absent, which doesn’t need a salary. 

Author:

Hayley Mann is a technology enthusiast specializing in automation methods of ergonomics devices. Her engineering background helps her to create interesting articles on technical topics, making them understandable for all readers.